Nicholson Named to Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – St. Bonaventure University forward Andrew Nicholson has been named to the 2010-11 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball All-Conference First-Team.

The 6-foot-9, 235-pound junior from Mississauga, Ontario is the first St. Bonaventure player selected to the All-Conference First-Team since Marques Green in 2002-03, and is the 11th player in program history to receive the honor.

Nicholson led the conference in scoring average during the regular season with 20.5 points per game, and led the Bonnies in rebounding (7.2/game), blocks (40) and field goal percentage (.573). His 10 double-doubles, including five consecutive, are also a team-high.

Over his three-year career, Nicholson is tied for 15th on the school's all-time scoring list (1,462 points) with Bill Butler, and is only 12 points (David Vanterpool 1,474) from moving into the 13th position. Nicholson is the program leader in career field goal percentage (.577, ahead of Bob Lanier) and single-season free throw attempts (215 in 2010-11), and ranks second all-time in blocked shots (176) and third in single-season blocks (81 in 2008-09).

Nicholson is joined on the First-Team by Temple's Lavoy Allen, Richmond's Kevin Anderson and Justin Harper, and Conference Player of the Year Tu Holloway from Xavier.

Xavier's Chris Mack recieved coach of the year honors while Duqesne's Damian Saunders and freshman guard T.J. McConnell collected Defensive Player and Rookie of the Year distinction, respectively.

Temple teammates Scootie Randall (Chris Daniels Most Improved) and Khalif Wyatt (Sixth Man) were also cited by the league for their efforts. Steve Weingarten of La Salle was the A-10 Men's Basketball Student Athlete of the Year.

The seventh-seeded Bonnies host No. 10 La Salle in an A-10 Men's Basketball Championship Opening Round game at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at the Reilly Center.